Caribbean Fishery Bulletin Bringing Fishing News to You FB24-005 Fishery Bulletin Issue Date: January 29, 2024 Contact: Sarah Stephenson, 727-824-5305, sarah.stephenson@noaa.gov, or Maria Lopez, maria.lopez@noaa.gov
Reminder of Seasonal Fishing Closure for Certain Groupers in Federal Waters around Puerto Rico, St. Thomas and St. John, and St. Croix and Seasonal Closure of Grammanik Bank off St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands What/When: Seasonal Grouper Closure The seasonal closure on fishing for or possession of red, black, tiger, yellowfin, and yellowedge* grouper in federal waters around Puerto Rico, St. Thomas and St. John, and St. Croix begins at 12:01 a.m., local time, on February 1, 2024, and extends through 11:59 p.m., local time, April 30, 2024.
The prohibition on possession does not apply to such grouper harvested and landed on shore prior to the closure.
*This seasonal closure does not apply to yellowedge grouper in St. Croix, as this species is no longer managed by the Caribbean Fishery Management Council in federal waters off St. Croix. Fishing Prohibitions in Grammanik Bank, U.S. Virgin Islands The seasonal closure on fishing for or possession of any fish species, except highly migratory species, in the Grammanik Bank area off St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands (Figure 1) begins at 12:01 a.m., local time, on February 1, 2024, and extends through 11:59 p.m., local time, April 30, 2024.
The term “fish” means finfish, molluscs, crustaceans, and all other forms of marine animal and plant life other than marine mammals and birds.
The Grammanik Bank area is located south of St. Thomas and bounded by the following coordinates: A B C D
18°11.898' N 18°11.645' N 18°11.058' N 18°11.311' N
64°56.328' W 64°56.225' W 64°57.810' W 64°57.913' W
Figure 1. Map showing the Grammanik Bank area (rectangle A, B, C, D) off St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands.
Why These Closures Are Happening: These seasonal closures protect species when they are spawning (reproducing) and therefore more vulnerable to fishing pressure. Sign Up For Text Message Alerts - Find Out About Immediate Openings and Closures NOAA's Text Message Alert Program allows you to receive important fishery related alerts via text message (SMS). Standard message & data rates may apply. You may opt-out at any time. Text alerts you may receive include: Immediate fishery openings and closures Any significant changes to fishing regulations that happen quickly Sign up for one or more of the following groups: Gulf of Mexico Recreational Fisheries Related Alerts o Text GULFRECFISH to 888777 Gulf of Mexico Commercial Fisheries Related Alerts o Text GULFCOMMFISH to 888777 South Atlantic Recreational Fisheries Related Alerts o Text SATLRECFISH to 888777 South Atlantic Commercial Fisheries Related Alerts o Text SATLCOMMFISH to 888777 Caribbean Fisheries Related Alerts o Text CARIBFISH to 888777 Other contacts: Media: Allison Garrett, 727-551-5750 NOAA Fisheries’ Southeast Recreational Fishing Coordinator: Sean Meehan, 727-385-5202